Leaderboard

Super League should definitely be the major league competition in Europe. Elite 1 & 2 and the Championship & League 1 could be strong lower leagues and feeder leagues for the SL. Clubs in France, Spain, Serbia and Ireland would be great for the sport in Europe. People talk about how the NRL should expand to the Pacific islands but SL should look at Europe

I was listening to the Valencia Hurricanes chairman on a podcast earlier and said the club still have ambitions to get into the English league. They asked if he thought Elite 1 might be better for Valencia, but he said for various reasons the English set up would be more suitable for them, mainly commercially as Elite 1 isn’t commercially strong enough. I’d love to see it myself, lots of cheap flights to that area, a popular holiday destination for an away trip, and already a number of amateur clubs in the region over the past few years. If they could do it and bring Spanish players through to the semi pro game it would be superb.

Given the lack of a joint plan with the RFL, the treatment of clubs who join The RFL and the history of clubs from expansion areas in our league system, I don’t know why anyone would want to join The RFL. If Valencia really think they’ll be different, good luck to them, it’s a great city.

Probably didnt help that he moved mid-season and had to train with baby weights in a hotel for 14 days then thrown into RL action. Nobody commented on his body shape before then either, when he was a MOS contender and good performer at international level. I think it was difficult for him to transition and now he's had a preseason he's ready to go.

Where would Valencia fit in? In the long term (10-15 years) Super League should consist of 24 teams: Wigan, St. Helens, Warrington, Leeds, Hull F.C., Hull K.R., Castleford, Bradford/Huddersfield. London, Newcastle, Cardiff, Dublin. Paris, Catalans, Toulouse, Avignon, Valencia, Belgrade Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago The competition would be divided into three conferences: (1) Britain and Ireland (2) continental Europe (3) north America. There would be 28 rounds, with each team playing each other team once, and the north American and European conference members playing members of their own conference twice. The British and Irish clubs would play every other team once, and five of their own conference twice. Because of inhospitable weather, for the first two months of Super League (mid-February - mid-April) the north American teams would be based in Britain or continental Europe, playing a bloc of their away games. They would then relocate to north America from mid-April and begin their home games.

I thought that this was essential criteria for SL clubs........

Until Toulouse is admitted to Super League -- something that should have happened years ago, and would have happened years ago had Richard Lewis remained in charge of the RFL -- no meaningful expansion of the game beyond the M62 corridor will take place. Without expansion the game of rugby league will rightly be either unknown or treated as a joke in Europe and most of the UK. There needs to be at least four SL teams from continental Europe, plus London and Newcastle, if the game is to attract more players, spectators, and money. There needs to be a limit of eight clubs maximum from the M62 corridor. They have to include Wigan, St. Helens, Warrington, Leeds, and Hull FC. Hull KR would also be advisable. Two from Castleford, Bradford (if they can find competent management) and Huddersfield could make up the eight. The sooner that Leigh, Salford and Wakefield, are relegated to make way for the expansion clubs, the better. After Toulouse joins Super League, and ignites much greater interest in the game in southern France, we can start thinking about Super League attracting and admitting other European clubs like Avignon, Paris, Lyon, Valencia, and Belgrade. A North Atlantic Super League, with at least six clubs from continental Europe, at least four from north America, plus London and Newcastle, is the only way forward to a prosperous future for the game.

That did annoy me when Crichton did that, Tapine was just minding his own business. I was hoping he'd wallop him

The current Red Star team is weaker than the one that took on Millom two years ago. In that team, they had experienced Aussie Darcy Etrich (who scored their opening try) and American national team duo Brandon Anderson and Jamil Robinson. Plus, they had been coached for 3 months by Phil Economidis in the period leading up to the game. Red Star are a real shining light and should be proud of everything they have achieved. But to compare them even to West Wales Raiders or any Elite 1 team is just ludicrous and does nobody any favours, especially in this day and age when there is plenty of video footage out there for all to see. Sounds like a smart approach as they have to work with what they've got (two dominant teams, then a big drop in standard). I am impressed that the Montenego team has played about 3 games in 4 weeks. I don't think they had even played 3 games in the last 3 years, so this could be a real turning point for them in their development. They have had two home games and an away match. For the away match (500km trip each way), I read that they had only 12 men against Dorcol Tigers and a few of them got injured and did not finish the match. So that is quite concerning and could effect their morale. Since they have two more fixtures left, I hope they are both home matches, because I cannot see them being able to make another long trip like that this season. Regarding Balkan SL, I think the idea is being shelved for a few seasons now as only Serbian teams were willing to participate. That will hopefully change in a few years once neighbouring countries like Greece and Turkey return to normal and get a season or two of matches under their belts.

The patting on the head stuff is awful. I also thought the Panthers guy should have been sin-binned for grabbing the Raiders sub as well. Unwarranted show boating just aimed at taking the mick. Assuming nobody actually throws a punch following one of these melees started by someone being a git, why not penalise them rather than the third man in? The third man in "rule" worked in the days of punch ups, as it was generally them that escalated pushing and shoving into a full-on fight, but that just doesn't happen any more. I don't see why they should get penalised instead of the original instigator nowadays.

If those away fans bring money in to help the club do grassroots stuff then I’m all for it. As long as they do want to do grassroots stuff as well as have a first team, which I understand that they do, they want Spanish players in the team not just a load of English and Aussie journeymen. Hopefully the new Spanish league which I gather is starting this year (Covid permitting) will pave the way.

9pm kick off, now you’re talking. Nice lunch and a few looseners in the old town, then head over to the beach area to pick up the pace a bit late afternoon and early evening, go to the match and then on to the Barrio del Carmen until you can’t drink another drop - best away day ever.

This is just a pipe dream though. After 25 odd years we still haven't got the 2nd French Super League team that was meant to happen in the original Super League concept. Toulouse have been knocking on the door for years and still haven't made it and Leigh instead were instead favoured for this season. I simply cant see any more than maybe two overseas teams in Super League, there simply isn't the places for them and there is an element of Turkeys voting for Christmas I actually think what we need a separate Europe elite competition to cater for continental clubs. Elite 1 could even be the starting point of that.

Always had time for Shirley Williams. R.I.P.

You would think that the French competition would be easier from a logistics point of view , my worry with them suggesting that the English set up suiting them more is are they hoping to rely on traveling fans too much ?

I'd love it. Another great visit if it comes off

Put your tin hat on Eddie as the negativity will start flying at you in a minute.

.

.

.

I felt bad because Tapine is a bit of an #### so I assumed he’d caused it but then watching the replay it was clear he did nothing. Crichton shall we say deliberately took the celebrations towards him. As has been pointed out if we aren’t going to let players deal with players being ##### then refs need to be doing it.

They must have improved massively since they played Millom then.

And then its the BAFTAs. Jeez.. A bunch of no mark luvvies in an orgy of self congratulation. All good films, I'm sure, but good grief, this adulation is a real emetic. Most of the films are not even released yet.

WTF is up with people? Just on TV now. Pubs opened at midnight and full of people. Just bloody contain yourselves, ya morons!!!

Good assessment, feels like hes in that Reynolds/Moses kind of area which is great. He's not a natural controlling half so that will always be lacking but he's doing very well and getting better.

I disagree too, for starters because the best Elite 1 sides are better than the bottom of League 1

First brood of ducklings at the ' clay hole ' Hindley green today

I am sorry that you feel that way. But I want you to know that Herbie Farnworth has the makings of a champion centre. The Australian TV commentators love him. It is only a matter of time before we start to think of Herbie in the same glowing terms that we previously thought of Sam Burgess, James Graham and John Bateman as NRL super stars.

As I've asked this question lots over the last few months, and have finally found the answer, thought I'd update. The chap that owns red star was on a chat on facebook and he explained how the league structure works. Basically it's just the 6 clubs in the top division playing each other at the moment: red star, partizan, dorcol, nis, new Belgrade and Souths. Once they've played each other the bottom two teams effectively get relegated to division 2 for the second half of the season, and are joined by a stack of other teams currently only playing friendlies and in the serbian cup. The top 4 play each other again for the first division championship in the second half of the season too. I guess this means new belgrade, nis and souths will be fighting it out to stay in the top 4. I hope I got this down right. I'm not sure how the 2nd division highlights in one of the posts above works, I guess this is a cup (kupa) game - the red star guy specifically said it was just the 6 playing league. He also said red star were unlikely to take part in the Balkan cup this year - so another Balkan cup win for Partizan I guess.

It will be interesting. The reality is he is still a very, very good NRL halfback. Out of the 16 starting half backs (number 7's only) in the NRL I would probably rank him at number 4. With only Nathan Cleary,Jerome Hughes and Mitch Moses ahead of him. I'd take Williams over very good halfbacks like Adam Reynolds, Daley Cherry-Evans, Mitch Pearce, Luke Brooks, Ash Taylor, Kodi Nikorima, Chad Townsend etc.

I also thought Thompson looked bigger... particularly around his glutes and legs. I remember Blocker Roach making a comment last year that Thompson looked strong up top but slim around the hips (which I agreed with). That may have been due to lockdown and him only able to work with what he had for fitness. But the Bulldogs conditioning team have obviously got his core strength up on last year and I think he will benefit from it.

Thought Thompson looked good in parts for the Bulldogs today, made some good yards and looked more up for it than I can recall. Also looked a bit bigger, but maybe that's just because I haven't seen him play for a while. George Williams didn't really inject himself into the game for Canberra, he just seemed happy distributing and letting Wighton make the plays. Regardless he's still one of the better players at the Raiders, and think he's much more than just average in the NRL. Also agree with Dunbar about Hodgson in defence. He seems to get bumped off far too regularly. Something that seems to be happening far more than I can recall.

Bit of a funny one Williams. Before he went over I said the following when asked by the Aussies how good he is... "Very talented. His short kicking game is very good as his his running. He also has a very decent passing game... always at the top end of the try assist stats. His defence is always pretty good as well. So you you would think he was a good all round half... well not quite as he hasn't got the organisational skills or communication to boss a game. He really needs an organisational half alongside him to shine." In his first year his off the cuff style and skills earned plaudits but Ricky Stewart has said that he wants him to improve his game management and become more vocal. He is perhaps achieving this a little more but I think he has lost something along the way as he is less dangerous this year and less of a running threat. He will never be a Cooper Cronk and boss the game for 80 minutes and I guess the question is would he be a better player if allowed to play his natural game - I don't think Canberra can do this as Wighton is not a natural game manager either. Will be very interesting to see how he kicks on for the rest of this year.

SDP co-founder Shirley Williams.

They're all overrated. None of them should make the england team for the world cup; particularly hodgson who at best is our third choice hooker.